Multigrain Adai

After 6 months..am back to form...
school and work took the blog time away from my calendar...
Back again to balance it !

Snowy day…wanted to eat something really hot and tasty!
Was staring at all the ingredients &condiments in the kitchen cabinet…
Suddenly,I saw this packet-The Nava Dhanya (multigrain)…..



Back to Indian History……….
This is list of Nine Grihas (Nine planets) respected as GOD with the respective Dhanya /Grain.It is believed that these are following planet’s auspicious grains and it is used as one of the main pooja item in Hindu custom.

Suriyan (Sun) – Wheat
Chandiran (Moon) - Paddy
Chevvai (Mars) - Tuvarai (Toor)
Bhudhan (Mercury) - Greengram (Moong) (
Guru( Jupitor) - Chana (Kadalai)
Sukiran (Venus) - White Rajma or Avari kai
Sani(Saturn) - Black Sesame (Ellu)
Rahu – Black gram (Ulundu or Urad)
Kethu – Horse gram (Kollu)

Enough of details…
But juz an update -that is how this packet got in to my house
I thought to use it right away by preparing a Multigrain Adai(a kinda of dosa)

I used:
Parboiled rice-1/2 cup
The Navadhanya packet as such except the sesame seeds
Red Chillies -5
Green Chili -1
To add while grinding
Pepper corns-1 tsp
Cumin seeds -1 tsp
Ginger (Chopped)-1 tsp
Curry leaves-1 sprig
Coriander leaves 1 -spirg
Salt to taste

I did:
1.Soak the dals and the rice overnight with the red chillies.
2.Some time in the morning, grind it coarsely with the pepper corns, cumin, green chillies, and curry leaves and ginger.

3.Let the batter sit for half an hour
4.Now, trickle some oil over the flat pan, once the pan is medium hot –pour 1 spatula batter ion it and spread it evenly from inside out (concentric)

5.Give the touch of oil at the edges of the Adai and to the center.
6.Allow it become medium brown on one side.
7.Flip over to the other side for a minute or so
8.Fold and serve with coconut chutney /pickle/curd
9.Jus one-two fill make you feel definitely FULL:)

As healthy as cup of fruit!
Best with Coconut Chutney or Jaggery
njoy!

Vegetable Lasagna

Lasagna, an Italian pasta dish from noodle family:) which is made with alternate layers of pasta noodle, cheese, tomato sauce and layers vary according to individual preferences from vegetables to meat.

I made Lasagna with vegetables with different layers than repeating the same (for a change...Yes simple and earthy layers :)
Vegetables Used:
Shredded Carrot-1/2 cup
Mushroom, Green Beans, Spinach (Well-Washed and Cut)-2 cups
Red Onions (Cut in Disc shape)-1/2 Cup
Jalapeno Peppers-(medium sized)-2 (if you want it spicy!!:))
Cherry Tomatoes (Cut in to Two)-1 Cup
Garlic ( Thinly Sliced)-2 tsp


Sauces Used:
Marinara Sauce-12 oz
“Three Cheeses” Marinara Sauce-6 oz
Hunt’s Tomato Paste-6 oz
Seasoning:
Celery Salt -1 tsp
Paprika Powder-1 tsp
Thyme-1/2 tsp
Italian Seasoning -1/2 tsp
Garlic Powder -1 tsp
Salt-as per pref (for Soaking Lasagna, for all layer Preparation)
Pepper-1 Tsp
Mozzarella Cheese (You can use Ricotta and Parmesan cheese along with it, but I used only one kind of cheese)-1 full Cup

Base: 1/2 Stick of Butter for sautéing and Greasing Lasagna Pan Base.

White Sauce(To 1 tsp of butter, add 2 tsp of all –purpose flour and allow it to cook for 5-6 minutes
Add salt as per Ur pref).I used ½ cup of light white sauce.
Lasagna: Cook Lasagna according to the cooking direction mentioned at the back of the packet.
• You could Boil in uncooked lasagna in salt water (In a large Stock Pot) for 10 minutes
• Else, the Easy way is to soak the lasagna noodle sticks in hot water for 10-15 minutes while you prepare the layering Ingredients.
• I did not do either of it, as I placed the raw noodle by sprinkling a pinch of salt and layered them up. Even here Lasagna got cooked, juz that the cooking time increased by 20 minutes than original. (45minutes+20 minutes extra)
Layering Preparation:
1. In a large Skillet, to a Tsp of Butter, Add Sliced Garlic, the Cut Tomatoes, toss it slightly so that the tomatoes are not over cooked/mashed.
2. Add Celery Salt, Thyme Italian Seasoning, and Garlic Powder and allow it cook for 5 minutes.

3. To 1 tsp of Butter, Sauté the shredded Carrots with a pinch of Lime juice for 5 -6 minutes in high flame and keep it aside
4. To I tsp of Butter, add Mushrooms, Spinach and Beans and sauté it well with a Pinch of Salt and Paprika Powder, Pepper .Don’t add water as mushroom and Spinach will ooze out some water and the mixture will absorb the spices well.

5. In the same skillet, sauté the onions and 1 jalapeno pepper and cook till the onions shrink inside the mixture.
Now:
Settle Down with all of the Ingredients by your side:

Start layering:
As I extended the cooking Time, I did not soak the lasagna in hot water .But remember to do it before placing them on the lasagna pan so as to reduce the cooking time.

I used an aluminum tray for lasagna preparation.
• Fill the base with generous amount of marinara Sauce
• Next arrange the lasagna on the top of the sauce filling the space. Sprinkle a pinch of salt if necessary.

• Now add the mushroom-spinach layer all over.

• Add a portion of 3 cheese marinara sauce; again add another thin layer of white sauce.

• Now the next layer, shredded carrots.

• Add the Tomato paste with Onions on the top of these carrots.
• Another Layer of Lasagna Noodles all over
• Place the pretty Tomatoes on the top of Noodles

• Sprinkle Parmesan Cheese on these tomatoes.

• Combine the remaining Marinara sauces (both the Tomato Basil Marinara and Three Marinara Sauce) and add the final layer

• Place the jalapeno peppers depending on Ur taste and lenience on peppers...hehehe…
• Finally sprinkle the rest of the Mozzarella Cheese.

• Cover it with aluminum foil.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit (usually 10-15 min).
• Place the pan in the middle layer of the grill and let it sit there for another 45 minutes

• Carefully hold the HOT pan and allow it to cool for 5 minutes, make squares and serve:)

Quick Chow Mein

Not always you have all vegetables to cook ;0
I opted this dish because I juz don’t want stand longer in the kitchen (when you really drowsy!)

What I did???
*Chow Mein-1 Pack
*Sliced onions-1/2 cup
*Bellpeppers/Chillies-1-2
*Mushroom-1/4 cup(washed in hot water;repeat the same with some vinegar and turmeric powder to get rid of any other --mushrooms are cute….yup not clean!!!!!!!!!!
*Garlic pods(sliced/chopped)-2 tsp
*Ginger-(chopped)-1 tsp
*Sesame Seeds-1 tsp
*Shredded Carrots-1/4 tsp
*Cabbage-1/4 cup
*Green peas-less than ¼ cup as I did not have much of it.
*Freshly Grounded White Pepper-1 tsp or as per req
*Kirkland Extra Virgin Olive Oil-2 tsp
*Vegetable Broth-1/4 cup

1) To 1 tsp of olive oil add salt as per req and bring 2-3 cups of water to boil.
2) Now add chow mein and allow to cook until it becomes soft and non sticky(it took 10 min for me)
3) On the other stove,I justed added a tsp of oil and cleaned mushrooms with chilly sauce,1 tsp of chopped garlic,salt and fried the mushrooms.I did not add water:) as mushroom by itself has lot of moisture in it.
4) This quick mushroom fry took nearly 10 minutes to be fully done!

Quick Chow Mein:
5) Side Dish is ready…oh ya..cho mein is tender and non sticky.Transfer it to a colander and run cold water for a min and keep aside.
6) Add 1 tsp of oil to the pan and add sesame seeds,ginger,garlic and fry for 1-2 minutes.Now add chillies,onions and again fry for another 5 minutes.
7) Add all the vegetables,White Pepper ,a pinch of salt for just the mixture(As we cooked chow mein with salt and water).
8) Fry for another 5 minutes,add ¼ cup of vegetable broth/stock and boil the mixture until the broth is fully absorbed(this consistency depends on ur pref).
9) Put the chow mein to this mixture and toss it well.
10) Garnish with cilantro.
11) I sprinked a pinch of garlic powder on the top of it.

You can customize your chow mein dish !.Additng the sprouts,onions scallops.corn starch,celery/broccoli,yellow peppers.soy sauce/chilly sauce…etc etc…
This was made with the ingredients readily available at home!

Rava(Cracked Wheat)Upma

Another wheat recipe....the only thing: I am not a great fan for this dish…

This reminds me of my childhood days. We three cousins used to spend summer hols together at my aunt’s place. One of my cousins juz cannot bare the word upma
We used to put master plan to hide the Rava Container on the roof top so that my aunt
rules out upma for dinner and prepares an another dish...
Now things changed a lot here ....We got to search for this Rava …:)
Got a chance to prepare this….
I finally agree it’s a great dish!
More nutritious than many other rice dishes!(justification?!!heheheh)

Let’s move on to the list:
Cracked wheat Rava- 1 cup
Medium size Onion- 1(chopped)
Red chilli -3
Mustard seeds-1 tsp
Cumin seeds -1/4 tsp (optional)
Urad dal- 2 teaspoon
Channa dal-1 tsp
Curry leaves-1 sprig
Ginger (well chopped)-1/2 tsp
Green Peas- ¼ cup
Tomato-1(you can add vegetable of ur choice)
Oil-1-1/2 tsp
Coriander leaves to garnish
Salt to taste
Water
To Do:

1. Heat oil in deep bottomed pan. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds, allow it to pop. Then add urad dal, channa dal and curry leaves and sauté for a few seconds.
2. Add Red chilli Ginger, onions and sauté till onion turns golden brown and gives a rich aroma.

3. Add tomatoes, Green peas and fry for around 3-4 minutes.
4. Here is the main part: Adding water (where most of the times in the past...I messed up!)
5. For 1 cup of Rava ,add 2-2 ¼ cups of water depending on the size of the cracked wheat.
6. Add salt and allow the water to a boil on a high flame.
7. When the water starts boiling, minimize the flame and add the Rava.
8. As and when you add it in tothe water, keep stirring the mixture with a spatula.
9. Continue stirring at regular intervals till the upma absorbs water and well cooked.Done!
10. Garnish with Coriander leaves and serve hot!
Njoy!!